Macworld Digital Photography Superguide, Second Edition
Hey, What's This?
If you're familiar with our ebooks, you've probably noticed that this one is different. It was written by our friends (some of whom also write for Take Control) at Macworld. Since they did a great job, we saw no reason to do something similar, so we're selling their ebook next to ours.
Learn everything you need to know about digital photography from the experts at Macworld!
Digital photography is a huge topic, which is why Macworld assembled a dream team of experts to contribute their years of knowledge to the Macworld Digital Photography Superguide, Second Edition. In this completely updated collection of essential articles about digital photography, they teach you how to take great shots, make them even better with image editing tools ranging from iPhoto to Adobe Photoshop, move them to something you can hold in your hand, and protect them against mishap.
More Info
Contents & Intro
FAQ
Read this ebook to learn the answers to questions such as:
Why would I use my camera's flash when shooting in sunlight?
What do I need to know about shooting in RAW?
What service offers the best quality prints for my money?
How should I back up my irreplaceable photographs?
Why don't my photos print well on my home printer?
How can I go beyond iPhoto's editing capabilities?
We encourage you to download the free 22-page sample to see what it looks like, since it is rather different from our Take Control design. If you plan to print, print a few test pages from the sample first in case you wish to consider Macworld's $24.99 print version, which has higher-resolution images than are feasible in an ebook.
The Macworld Digital Photography Superguide was written by Christopher Breen, Jeff Carlson, Robert Ellis, Glenn Fleishman, James Galbraith, Jim Heid, Joe Kissell, Rick LePage, Ben Long, and Derrick Story.
Six years ago, my wife and I were expecting our first child. During one of our weekend walks around town together, we debated the latest crazy technology purchase I was advocating: a digital camera. I was worried about the cost of printing photos, when compared with getting prints made at the local drugstore. We were both worried about image quality and, of course, the cost of the camera.
A lot has changed in my life in the intervening years—and not just the typical parent stuff. These days, my family and I live in a nearly all-digital world. In fact, I'm astonished when I discover someone taking snapshots with a film camera, as if I'm watching a woolly mammoth stumble out of the forest looking for food. Our carefully calculated cost analysis of ordering prints from a photo-printing service versus our local drugstore is almost laughable now, since we've all but stopped ordering prints anywhere, opting instead for Web photo galleries and semiannual photo books. And my kids have never known the long,painful wait between hearing that shutter snap and seeing the results.
My point is this: in less than a decade the world of photography has transformed completely. Today's cameras and photo software use impressive technology to give us staggering flexibility and quality. But all of that power comes at a price. Sometimes these devices and programs aren't as easy to use as they could be. And beyond that, photography is still as much about art as science: someone who tends to take awful pictures can do it just as easily on a $1,000 digital SLR as they did on an old 35- millimeter film camera.
That's why Macworld writes about digital photography on a regular basis—to provide tips, tricks, and advice that help you get the most out of your camera and your digital photo library. And that's why we've created this book—to collect everything we've learned about digital photography in the past few years, make sure it's up-to-date, and give it to you in one easy package.
Whether you're shopping for a new camera, aching for tips on shooting better photos, trying to come to grips with a massive (and ever-growing) library of photos, or simply interested in using soft- ware tools to make your photos look their best, our team of digital photography specialists have assembled this book to provide you with the expert advice you need.
As for that walk my wife and I took six years ago,obviously,we did finally decide to buy that digital camera. What pushed me over the edge? I didn't want to have to take photos of our new baby, run them to the one-hour photo lab,and then scan them in to my Mac so I could e-mail them to our far-flung families.
We made the right decision. Every photo I've taken since then is in my photo library on my Mac at home. I wouldn't have it any other way.
—Jason Snell, Editorial Director, Macworld
San Francisco, November 2007
Table of Contents
How to Buy a Digital Camera
What Type of Camera Is Right for You?
From compact models that fit in your pocket to hefty SLRs that pack professional features, there's no shortage of options when it comes to buying a new digital camera. We'll explain the differences and help you find your perfect match.
How Many Pixels Do You Need?
When it comes to your camera's resolution, more pixels isn't always better. See what you gain—and what you lose—with all those pixels.
Which Features Really Matter?
Is it worth spending extra money for the latest camera technology? Whether it's image stabilization, face detection, or a Wi-Fi connection, see which features help you take better photos—and which are just fluff.
Improve Your Camera Skills
Understanding Your Camera's Controls
Most cameras offer to do the difficult photographic work for you; you simply have to press the shutter. But to get photos that really stand out, you need to know how—and when—to switch out of auto mode and take control of the reins. Learn how shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and white balance affect your images and how to use them for artistic effect.
Taking Control of Your Flash
Want to take great portraits? Wish your party photos didn't look so gloomy? The secret to these challenges lies in understanding your camera's flash modes.
Choosing to Shoot in Raw
All digital SLRs—and even some compact cameras—offer a Raw mode, which lets you work with the camera's raw image data. This gives you greater freedom when shooting and more options when editing. But it's not ideal for every situation. See the pros and cons of working in this format, and what software you'll need to fine-tune your images.
Troubleshooting Difficult Shots
Tired of blurry action shots? Wondering how to photograph fish at the local aquarium? Find the simple solutions to these common photo challenges.
Scan Prints and Negatives
Selecting a Scanner
To add film-era prints and
slides to your iPhoto library,
you'll need a good scanner.
We'll show you how to find the right one for the task—or better
yet, how to hire someone to do the work for you.
Building Your Workflow
Although scanning photos isn't a quick process, it doesn't have to become a second job. Follow these steps to safely and efficiently digitize, catalog, and annotate your photos.
Manage Your Photo Collection
Uploading Photos
Get photos off of your digital camera and into iPhoto's library the smart way.
Working with Events
iPhoto's Events pane organizes your photos around life's big— and small—events. Learn how to take control of this handy organizational scheme to add order to an unwieldy photo library.
Adding Custom Information
Nobody knows your photos like you do. So spend a little time after importing your shots to add valuable information like ratings and keywords to your images. Later you can use these annotations to organize your photos in useful ways.
Finding Photos Fast
Searching for a needle in a haystack? Unlock the hidden powers of iPhoto's search tools.
Bring Out the Best in Your Photos
Calibrate Your System
Before you edit a single picture, make sure you can trust what you see on screen by first calibrating your monitor.
Using iPhoto's Editing Tools
iPhoto makes it easy to quickly diagnose and fix subtle problems such as bad color, dim highlights, and crooked images. Learn how to put the program's editing tools to work on your favorite shots.
When iPhoto Isn't Enough
For truly troubled photos, you may need more help than iPhoto can offer. Luckily, iPhoto makes it easy to incorporate an external image editor into your routine.
4 Fun iPhoto Add-ons
Whether you want to create comic books or stunning panoramas, these inexpensive programs let you do more with the images in your iPhoto library.
Print Your Photos
Buying a Photo Printer
With an ink-jet photo printer, you can turn your Mac into a home printing studio. We'll help you find the right one.
Solving Common Printing Problems
Missing colors? Streaky lines? Use these troubleshooting tips to avoid the most common problems when putting ink to paper.
Printing on Fabric, Canvas, and More
Whether you're looking for interesting textures, richer colors, or budget-minded media, there's a world of alternative papers to experiment with.
Using an Online Printing Service
If you don't want to print photos yourself, plenty of online photo services will be happy to take the job off your hands.
Fun Photo Projects
Design Books, Calendars, and Cards in iPhoto
You don't even have to leave iPhoto to create beautifully designed photo projects. Our tips and tricks will help you sail through the process and unlock hidden features.
Turn Photos into Posters
For photos that really impress, think big. Thanks to online printers and high-resolution cameras, it's easier than you think to get poster-sized prints from your digital photos.
Build a Better Slide Show
Put your favorite images into motion with iPhoto's slide-show tools. When you're done, you can burn your multimedia creation to a professional-quality DVD for others to enjoy.
Create an Online Gallery
To quickly share your photos with far-flung friends and family, skip the paper entirely and post your photos online. Here are three services that get the job done with ease.
13 Great Photo Gifts
From coasters to stamps to edible delights, you can put your photos on just about anything. Here are a few of our favorite options.
Protect Your Photos
Develop a Backup Plan
If your house caught on fire or your hard drive suddenly died, would your digital photos survive? We'll show you how to back up your photo collection and preserve those digital memories.
Back Up Photos While on the Road
Don't let a bad memory card ruin your entire vacation. There's plenty you can do to protect your photos while away from your computer.
Ask a Question
Feel free to ask us if you have a question about this book!
